Machine for continuous internal broaching



M y 1965 E. H. H. GRAF ETAL MACHINE FOR CONTINUOUS INTERNAL BROACHING l4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 30, 1963 INVENTORS TTONE Y May 1965 E. H. H.GRAF ETAL 3,185,039

MACHINE FOR CONTINUOUS INTERNAL BRQACHING' Filed Aug. 30, 1963 14Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS 7 ORA/E May 5, 1965 E. H. H. GRAF ETAL MACHINEFOR CONTINUOUS INTERNAL BROACHING Filed Aug. 30, 1963 14 Sheets-Sheet $5L L Y m mm M a M -w mg; n 5 14w J B x f Q \J! /%E .r\

May 25, 1965 E. H. H. GRAF ETAL MACHINE FOR CONTINUOUS INTERNALBROACHING Filed Aug. 30, 1965 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 25, 1965 E. H. H.GRAF ETAL MACHINE FOR CONTINUOUS INTERNAL BROACHING l4 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed Aug. 50', 1963 inn" i 1.1m I? i a? MW May 25, 1965 E. H. H. GRAFETAL MACHINE FOR CONTINUOUS INTERNAL BR OACHING l4 Sheets-Sheet 6 FiledAug. 30, 1963 & y WFWU flJ 5 7T 2 Mm w May 25, 1965 E. H. H. GRAF ETAL3,135,039

MACHINE FOR CONTINUOUS INTERNAL BRQACHING Filed Aug. 30, 1965 14Sheets-Sheet v IN VENTORS E. H. H. GRAF ETAL 3,185,039

14 SheetsSheet 8 LU i Tl z m F m; m WI WM M it T m v 1. n m. m. .u. m

MACHINE FOR CONTINUOUS INTERNAL BROACHING Filed'Aug. 30, 1963 i I l 4May 25,1965

y 1955 E. H. H. GRAF ETAL 3,185,039

MACHINE FOR CONTINUOUS INTERNAL BROACHING Filed Aug. 30, 1963 14Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTORS f2 ST/YflGR/IFAZ E- 15 BWLZiQTiJ/PANDALL May1965 E. H. H. GRAF ETAL MACHINE FOR CONTINUOUS INTERNAL BROACHING 14Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Aug. 50, 1963 PM H y INVENTORS I fk/vfsr/ffl GPAF&I w/vmu May 2 1965 E. H. H. GRAF ETAL MACHINE FOR CONTINUOUS INTERNALBROACHING 14 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed Aug. 30, 1965 TORNEY m V m 1'1 I i II I l l I l I I l I I I I i l I I l l I I I I I I l I I l I T lllllllllllllllllllllll lllllllll II n Q9 1\) fR/VEMK/QGRAF & wwzerij 164/V0/1LLfowl/9% 14 Sheets-Sheet 12 E. H. H. GRAF ETAL N o LE 8w JLEC LZV JJVMIVV/ MACHINE FOR CONTINUOUS INTERNAL BROACHING May 25, 1965 Filed Aug. 30,1963 can mFm 77 SR Wm M A7 ORA f y 25, 1955 E. H. H. GRAF ETAL 3,185,039

MACHINE FOR CONTINUOUS INTERNAL BROACHING Filed Aug. 50, 1963 14Sheets-Sheet l3 TOR/V5 Y y 25, 1965 E. H. H. GRAF ETAL MACHINE FORCONTINUOUS INTERNAL BROACHING Filed Aug. 50, 1963 14 Sheets-Sheet l4United States Patent 3,185,039 MACIME FOR CONTINUOUS INTERNAL BROAC :I

Ernest H. H. Graf, Birmingham, Mich, and Albert E. I. Randall, Studley,England, assignors of one-half each to Detroit Breach & Machine Company,Rochester, Mich, a corporation of Michigan, and BSA. Tools Limited,Birmingham, England Filed Aug. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 305,614 12 Claims.(Cl. 90-86) This invention relates to a method of continuous internalbreaching and to continuous breaching machines of a type employable toperform internal breaching opera- -tions.

There have been in the prior art numerous continuous external breachingmachines for performing external breaching operations on work piecescarried by work holders on an endless chain, the said work holderstraveling along a longitudinal way under breaches fixed in a breachtunnel disposed over the way.

Such machines are employed for the external breaching of certain typesof work and are highly efficient and readily accommodate themselves tocombinations of hand, semi-automatic and automatic work loading andunloading.

With the foregoing in view, it is the primary object of this inventionto provide an improved continuous broaching method and machine whichwill perform efficiently and effectively internal breaching operations.

Another object of this invention is to provide a continuous internalbreaching machine including a breach and breach holding and handlingmechanism at least at opposite ends of the breach to permit thetelescoping of work pieces, preferably in work holders, onto and alongthe breach while the work holders fixed to an endless chain move alongrigid guide and support ways located in spaced relationship to thebreach.

A further object of the invention is to provide a continuous internalbreaching machine of the aforesaid type in which the breach handlingmechanism is mechanically and/or hydraulically operated in relationshipto work holder travel responsive to the movement of the work holders,the work holders carrying the work in telescopic relationship onto thebreach at the lead end thereof, moving it along the breach to accomplishan internal broaching operation, and removing it from the breach at thetail end thereof.

Still another object of the invention is to provide, in an internalcontinuous breaching machine of the type embodying the instantinvention, means mounting the breach handling mechanism at at least oneend of the breach for tensioning the breach between breach handlingmechanisms employed at the lead and tail ends of the breach.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent by reference to thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a continuous internal breaching machineembodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan View taken on the line 3--3of FIG. 2 of a work holder carried by an endless chain as it approachesthe breaching tunnel showing the release and hammer cams carried by thework holder.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on theline 44 of FIG. 2.

:FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken onthe line 55 of FIG. 2 showing the breach holder jaw actuating cams atthe lead end of the breach.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 7-7 ofFIG. 2 between the 1st and 2nd pairs of breach holder jaws at the leadend of the breach, the second pair of breach holder jaws being shown intheir OPEN position.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view taken on the line 83 of FIG.2 at the rear end of the breaching tunnel showing the 3rd pair of breachholders CLOSED with the 4th pair of beach holders OPEN.

FIG. 9 is a more or less diagrammatic View showing a breach held by the1st and 3rd pair of breach holder jaws in their CLOSED position whilethe 2nd and 4th pair are retracted to their OPEN position.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line 1010 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a sectional View taken on the line 11-11 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged plan view at the rear end of the breaching tunnelsimilar to FIG. 8 showing an alternate construction of the 3rd and 4thpair of breach holder jaws employed to tension the breach.

FIG. 13 is a further enlarged fragmentary view of the 3rd pair of breachholder jaws showing a preferable form of complementary cam surfacesbetween the said jaws and the breach shank, the 4th pair of breachholder jaws being like and similar.

FIG. 14 is a more or less diagrammatic view showing a breach held by the1st and 3rd pairs of breach holder jaws in their CLOSED position whilethe 2nd and 4th pair are retracted, the 3rd and 4th pair of breachholder jaws each having complementary cam formations between the saidjaws and the breach shank employed to tension the breach.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken on the line 1515 of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken on the line 16-16 of FIG. 14.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged plan view at the rear end of the breaching tunnelshowing an alternate construction employing means hydraulicallytensioning the breach using breach jaw and breach formations as in theembodiment of the invention disclosed in FIGS. 111 inclusive, both the3rd and 4th pairs of breach holder jaws being mounted on a single slide.

FIG. 18 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 18-18 of FIG.17.

FIG. 19 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 1919 of FIG. 17.

FIG. 20 is a more or less diagrammatic view showing the breach of theembodiment of the invention disclosed in FIGS. -17, 18 and 19 held bythe 1st and 3rd pairs of breach holder jaws while the 2nd and 4th pairare retracted.

FIG. 21 is a sectional view taken on the line 21-21 of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is an enlarged plan View at the rear end of the breaching tunnelshowing a further alternate construction employing still another meansfor tensioning the breach wherein the 3rd and 4th pairs of breach holderjaws are each mounted on a separate slide.

FIG. 23 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2323 of FIG.22.

FIG. 24 is a horizontal sectional view through the I breaching tunneltaken on the line 2424 of FIG. 26 showing hydraulic means for closingand retracting breach holder jaws alternate to the mechanical meansemploy ed to operate the breach holder jaws disclosed in the embodimentof the invention shown in FIGS. 1-11 inelusive.

Patented May 25, 1965 aneacse FIG. 25 is a vertical sectional view takenon the line 25-25 of FIG. 26.

FIG. 26 is a fragmentary locater side elevational view of the breachingtunnel taken on the line 2626 of FIG. 24.

Referring now to the drawingsfwherein like reference characters refer tolike and corresponding parts throughout the several views, a continousinternal breaching machine embodying the invention disclosed in FIGS.111 inclusive and comprises, in general, a machine frame 11 supporting alongitudinally disposed chain conveyor 12 consisting of pairs of endsprockets 13 mounted on transverse shafts 14 and a pair of laterallyspaced roller type chains 15. The said conveyor 12 is driven byconventional conveyor drive means, not shown. The laterally spacedconveyor chains 15 carry work holders 1 6 fixed thereto at intervalstherealong. On the machine frame 11 is a pair of longitudinal upper ways17 which guide and support the upper flight of work holders 16 carriedby the conveyor chain 15 between the sprockets 13, while the lowerflight of the said work holders 16 is guided and supported onlongitudinal lower ways 18.

Above the'upper ways 17 is a breach tunnel 26 which houses breachhandling mechanism and work holder'cam mechanism. The broach handlingmechanism sequentially engages and disengages a breach B as the work Wis carried by work holders 16 along the upper longitudinal ways. Thesaid broach handling mechanism includes a plurality of pairs of breachholder jaws, preferably four pairs, which open and close to permit thework W to be telescoped ever, be moved along and removed from thebreach. B whereby to permit an internal breaching operation to beaccomplished by the breach B within the said work W. At least two of thesaid pairs of breach holder jaws, one pair at each end of the machine,hold the broach B in breaching positionat all times.

Assuming the work holders 16 fixed to the conveyor chains 15 travel fromright to left during a breaching operation as indicated by the arrow Ain FIG. 2, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th pairs of breach holder jaws fromthe right in FIG. 1 are designated 21, 22, 23 and 24. The pairs ofbreach holder jaws 21 and 22 and the pairs of breach holder jaws 23 and24 open sequentially to permit the work W carried by the work holders 16to pass onto, along and off the broach B. At the same time, at least oneof the pairs of breach holder jaws 21 and 22 and at least one of thepairs of breach holder jaws 23 and 24 simultaneously hold the breach Bfirmly in breaching position. In the particular embodiment of theinvention disclosed in FIGS. 1-11 inclusive, during continuous breachingoperations one of the pairs of breach holder jaws 21 and 22 is always inengagement with one of the longitudinally spaced circular notches 25 inthe lead end of the breach B to anchor the breach to accept thebreaching tension, while one of the pairs of breach holder jaws 23 and24 is always in engagement with the tail end of the breach B to hold thebreach in breaching alignment.

The work holders 16 may be of any suitable shape and form to accommodatethe receipt of work W placed thereiuto as indicated at W in FIG. 1. Inmany instances, the work W need not be clamped in the work holder 16,and, in such cases, a suitable nest 19 is formed in the forward end ofthe upper narrow portion 160 of the work holders 16 to accommodateplacement of the work W therein. In the event the work W is not clampedin the work holder 16, after having been breached internally, it' maydrop from the work holders 16 onto a discharge chute 26 as shown in FIG.2. Of course, when required, the work W may be clamped in the workholder 16 by suitable manual or automatic clamping means, not shown.

In the continuous internal breaching machine 1:) disclosed in FIGS. l-llinclusive, each work holder 16 is preferably mounted on longitudinallyadjacent link pins 27 of the conveyor chains 15 which preferably extendlaterally through the base 28 of the said work holder 16 as best shownin FIG. 4. The base 28 of each work holder 16 is preferably formedT-shaped adjacent the bottom thereof to provide pairs of slides 29 whichride on pairs of longitudinally disposed laterally spaced upper andlower Ways 17 and 18 as the conveyor chain 15 is in motion. This orsimilar construction provides a firm support for the Work holders 16 asthey travel through the breach tunnel 21) under the operation of thechain conveyor 12. The upper narrow portion 160 of each work holder 16is longitudinally chamfered for tunnel clearance, and is provided with alongitudinal bore 30 therethrough of a diameter to permit the workholder 16 to telescope freely over the breach B.

The work W to be breached is indicated to be cylindrical in shape, butmay be of any shape, and is positioned in a nest or cradle 19'formed ineach work holder 16 at the proper elevation so that the small lead endof the breach B can telescope freely into a pro-broaching bore 31provided in the said work W. The longitudinal center of the breach Bwhen supported in two or more pairs of breach holder jaws 21, 22, 23 and24 preferably is on or substantially on the longitudinal center of thework W and the longitudinal bore 30 through the work holder 16. Thisrelationship, of course, would not obtain in instances where the work Wand/or the breaching cut therein are other than substantiallysymmetrical with respect to' each other. The proper set up of workholders and work to be breached on a continuous internal breachingmachine. of the invention would be obvious to anyone skilled in the artof breaching.

The sequential opening and closing of the pairs of breach holder jaws21, 22, 23 and 24 to permit the conveyor 12 and work holders 16 mountedon the conveyor chains 15 to move the work W onto, along and off thebreach B is accomplished in the embodiment of the invention disclosed inFIGS. 1-11 inclusive by a series of cams and allied elements openated bythe movement of the work holders 16 along the ways 17. Each of thebreach holder jaws of the pairs 21, 22,23 and 24 thereof is preferablyformed of a rectangular bar reciprocatingly fit into a transverselydisposed rectangular broach holder jaw guide 32 formed through a sidewall 33 of the breach tunnel 29. The said broach tunnel 20 is supportedon the machine frame 11 and consists of two side walls 33 and a :top 34apertured at 35 to provide inspection access to each pair of breachholder jaws 21, 22, 23 and 24. The jaw guides 32 for each pair of broachholders are disposed transversely of the upperways 17 and at such adistance thereabove as to perm-it the breach holderjaws 21, 22, 23 and24's'lidable there-- in to support and hold the breach B in the desiredposition when moved into engagement therewith. At the bottom of eachside wall 33 of the breach tunnel 20 is a cam housing 36 formed to carrybroach holder jaw operating cam means for each pair of breach holderjaws 2 1, 22, 23 and24, the said broach holder jaw operating cam meansbeing actuated by cam means carried 2y each work holder 16, all ashereinafter described in etail.

By reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 which show top and rear end views of awork holder 16, a pair of laterally ext-ending fixed release earns 40extend laterally outwar'dly from the front, portion of the said Workholder 16, land a pair of generallytr-iangular relatively fiat lockinghammer earns 41 located somewhat rearwardly of and at an elevation abovethe release cams 40 are pivoted near their forward end to the workholder 16 by means of vertically disposed hammer cam pivots 42 andextend laterally outwardly from the said work holder. 16. Compressionsprings 43 in suitable lateral bores provided in the work holder 16constantly urge the locking hammer cams 41 to swing outwardly about thehammer cam pivots 42 to their extended position as shown in FIG. 3. Thesaid extended position of the locking hammer cams 41 is established by anub 44 formed on the forward end of each locking hammer cam 41 whichcontacts the wall 37 at the upper relatively narrow portion 160 of thework holder 16. Each locking hammer cam 41 is provided with an'angularly disposed cam surface 45, and is notched at its extreme outerend to provide a hammer head 46, the function of which will be laterdescribed.

FIGS. 5-7 inclusive disclose broach holder jaw operating cam means foreach pair of broach holder jaws 21 and 22 at the lead end of the breachB, which jaws are actuated by the release cams 4t) and the lockinghammer cams 41 carried by the broach holders 16. The broach holder jaws21 are shown in their closed position in FIGS. 5 and 6 engaging thebroach B at the endmost circular notch 25 thereof while the broachholder jaws 22 are shown in their open position sufiiciently free of thebroach B to permit the upper work holding portion 160 of a work holder16 to pass therebetween, the said work holder 16 being indicated in FIG.5 longitudinally between the pair of broach holder jaws 21 and the pairof br-oaoh holder jaws 22 shown therein.

Each broach holder jaw operating cam means consists of a set of slidingcams 59 disposed in suitable chases and cam surfaces formed in a camhousing 36, one cam housing and one cam set being provided for eachbroach holder jaw of each pair of broach holder jaws 21 and 22 as bestshown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Detailed descrip tion of the opening and closingof pairs of breach holder jaws by broach holder jaw operating oam meansactuated by the fixed release cams til-and the locking hamrner cams 41carried by the work holders 16 will be combined for clarity with thedescription of the operation thereof.

When the operator starts a continuous internal broach ing machine of theinvention disclosed in FIGS. ll1 inclusive, it may be assumed that thepairs of broach holder jaws 21 and 22 are closed and support and anchorthe lead end of the broach B, and that the pairs of broach holder jaws23 and 24 are also closed and support the tail end of the said broach B.As the upper flight of the chain 15 travels in a right to left orforward direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 2, the pair of broachholder jaws 21 are opened and closed by a work holder 16. The pair ofbreach holder jaws 22 are shown as opened by the same work holder 16that had just closed the broach holder jaws 21. This is the attitude ofthe pairs of broach holder jaws 21 and 22 as shown in FIG. 5. Themachine operator has placed work W in the nest or cradle 19 of the workholders 16 with an end face of the work W in abutment with the rear endwall of the cradle 19, and, in FIG. 5 a work holder 16 has telescopedthe work W onto the lead end of the broach B and has moved the said workW to the shown position between the pair of broach holder jaws 21 andthe pair of broach holder jaws 22, the said work holder 16 having openedthe broach holder jaws 22.

Each set of broach holder jaw operating earns 50 include a transversejaw opening cam 51, a longitudinal cam 52, a broach holder jaw cam cut53 on a broach holder jaw 21, 22, 23 or 24 forming cam surtiaces 539 and531 in the lower portion thereof, and a transverse jaw closing cam 54,all of said cams having complementary diagonal cam surfaces to providerectilinear movement of a broach holder jaw 21, 22, 23 or 24 withrespect to the travel of the work holder 16 carrying the release earns40 and locking hammer cams 41.

With the broach holder jaws 21 closed and in engagement with the broachB as shown in FIG. 5, and assumiug a work holder 16 is being moved alongthe upper ways 17, the release cam surface 4% of each of the fixedrelease cams 40 carried by the work holder 16 first contact the camsurface 510 of each of the transverse jaw opening cams 51 thereby movingthe said jaws cam surface 511 on each of the jaws opening earns 51' totravel along the cam surface 520 of each of the longitudinal cams 52moving the said longitudinal cams 52 to the left as viewed in FIG. 5.The cam surface 521 of each of the longitudinal cams 52 come intosliding contact with the cam surface 530 formed on each of the broachholder jaws 21 at a cam cut 53 in the bottom thereof whereupon thebroach holder jaws 21 move from their closed or advanced position shownin FIG. 5 to their open or retracted position similar to the open orretracted positon of the broach holder jaws 22 also shown in FIG. 5; thebroach holder jaws 22 each having a like cam cut 53 and cam surface 530therein.

After the broach holder jaws have been opened and moved to theirretracted position as illustrated at the broach holder jaws 22 in FIG.5, the upper work holding portion of the work holder 16 passes clear ofthe said broach holder jaws 22 and the cam surface 45 of each lockinghammer cam 41 contacts the cam surface 544 of a transverse jaw closingcam 54 and moves the said jaw closing earns 54 laterally outwardly. Eachjaw closing cam 54 also has a cam surface 541 which travels along thecam surface 522 on the longitudinal earns 52 moving the saidlongitudinal earns 52 to the right as viewed in FIG. 5. The cam surface523 on each of the longitudinal cams 52 come into sliding contact withthe cam surface 531 formed on each of the broach holder jaws 22 at thesaid cam cut 53 therein which moves the said broach holder jaws 22 fromtheiropen or retracted position shown in FIG. 5 to their closed oradvanced position similar to that of the closed or advanced position ofthe broach holder jaws 21 also shown in FIG. 5; the broach holder jaws21 each having a like cam surface 531 at the cam cut 53 therein.

The closing movement of each of the broach holder jaws 21 and 22 isstopped by a stop nut 47 threaded on a stop rod 48 extending laterallyoutwardly from the outer end of each broach holder jaw through a sideplate cover 38 on the side wall 33 of the broaching tunnel 20 oppositeeach set of broach holder earns 50. A look nut 4-) is employed tomaintain the stop nut 47 in its proper adjusted position. Thus, the stopnuts 47 prevent further movement of the broach holder jaws 22 at thistime, the broach holder jaws 22 having moved to their advanced or closedposition.

As the work holder 16 continues to move forward in its direction oftravel after the broach holder jaws 22 are in their closed position,each locking hammer cam 41 is forced by the cam surface 549 of the jawclosing cam 54 in contact with the cam surface 45 of the said lockinghammer cam 41 to pivot around its pivot 42 and compress the lockinghammer cam spring 43 thereof, As the work holder 16 travels further, theouter fiat edge 410 of the locking hammer cam 41 travels along the innerend face 542 of the jaw closing cam 54 until it passes clear thereofwhereupon the locking hammer cam 41 swings abruptly outwardly under thepower of the retracted hammer cam spring 43 and the anvil surface 466 ofthe hammer head 46 of the locking hammer cam 41 strikes a sharp blow onthe inner end face 542 of the jaw closing cam 54. Thusly, the broachholder jaws 22 are securely locked in their closed position like theclosed position of the broach holder jaws 21 shown in FIG. 5. 7

Each of the pairs of broach holder jaws 21, 22, 23 and 24 are operatedmechanically by cams carried by the work holders hereinabove describedfor the opening of the broach holder jaws 21 and for the closing of thebroach holder jaws 22. In the embodiment of the invention disclosed inFIGS. 1-11 inclusive, the pairs of broach holder jaws 23 and 24 aredimensioned so that they will engage the tail portion of the broach B.Inasmuch as the longitudinal thrust of the broach B is always taken byeither one or both of the pairs of broach holder jaws 21 and 22, thetail portion of the broach B need'not be pro- 7 vidcd with a circularnotch25 .to provide an annular shoulder 250 for breach engagementlongitudinally with the breach holder jaws when closed.

In FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, the breach holder jaws 21 and 23 are indicated intheir closed. position supporting the breach B. The breach. holder jaws22 and24 are indicated in their open position. After a work. holder 16passes through the open breach holder jaws 22 at the lead end of thebreach B and closes the same, a following work holder 16 opens thebreach holder jaws 21 permitting work.

W to pass therethrough. Also, when a work holder 16 closes the openbreach holder jaws 24 at the tail end of the breach B, the followingwork holder 16 will open the closed breach holder jaws 23 and permitwork W to pass thercthrough. The number of work holders 16 between thepairs of breach holder jaws 22 and 23 at any one time depends upon thespacing of the work holders 16 on the chain conveyor 12 and thelongitudinal space between the said pairs of breach holder jaws 22 and23. The space between the pairs of breach holder jaws 21 and 22 andbetween the pairs of breach holder jaws 23 and 24 is preferably in eachinstance sufficient to permit the closing of the one pair of'broachholder jaws while the other pair is opened. Thusly, the breach B isalways held by one of the pairs of breach holder jaws 21 and 22 and'oneof the pairs of breach holder. jaws 23 and 24 as the work W isthreadedon the leading end of the breach B Q as 1721 inclusive is likeand similar to the embodiment of the invention disclosed in FIGS. '1-11inclusive, except that the 3rd and 4th pair of breach holder jawsdesignated by the reference numerals 70 and 71 and their operating andmoved therealong the said breach B to cause abroach- 7 ing operation tobe performed thereon. At all times, the

longitudinal tension of the breach B istaken by one pair of the breachholder jaws 21 or 22 at the lead end of the breach B while the tail endof the breach B is always and held in its proper position by one pair ofthe breach holder jaws 23 or 24. The annular radially disposedshoulder-250 at each circular notch 25 inthe breach B bears against theadjacent side of a pair of closed breach holderjaws 21 or 22 when closedto anchor the breach B against breach tension during the breachingoperation of the embodiment of the continuous internal breaching machinedisclosed in FIGS. '1-11 inclusive.

Reference is now made to the embodiment of the invention disclosed inFIGS. 12-16 inclusive, which is like and similar to the embodiment ofthe invention disclosed in FIGS. 1-11 inclusive except that the 3rd and4th pair of breach holder jaws designated by the reference numerals 60and 61 respectively are each formed with a segmental frusto-conical camsurface 62 at the semi-circular notch 65 in the end thereof, which camsurfaces 62 engage complementary frusto-conical annular cam surfaces 63formed on the breach B-1 at the tailmost end of circular notches 65formed therein when the pairs of breach holder jaws 6t) and 61 areclosed.

When the breach holder jaws 611 or 61 orboth of the mechanism is thesame as for the pairs; of breach holder jaws 21 and 22 of the embodimentof the invention disclosed in FIGS. 1-11 inclusive, and except that theentire breach holder jaws 70 and '71 and theiroperating mechanism ismounted on a generally rectangular slide 72' which is hydraulicallyurged rearwardly or to theleft as viewed in FIGS. 17, 19 and 20 inrespect to the 1st. and 2nd pair of beach holder jaws 21 and 22, thelatter being mounted through the walls of the breach tunnel 20 againstlongitudinal movement in respect thereto.

The slide 72 is indicated diagrammatically in FIG. 20 with the arrowA-72 indicating the unitary movement of the slide 72 and breach holderjaws and jaw operating mechanismthereon in respect to the breach holderjaws 20' and 21 to tension the breach B-2. The breach B-2 diifers from,the breach B in that the breach B-2 is provided with circular notches atboth the lead end and at the tail end thereof to accommodate the breachholder jaws 21, 22, 70 and 71 sequentially closed by the jaw operatingmechanism hereinbefore described for the operation of the breach holderjaws 21., 22, 23 and 24 of the embodiment of the invention disclosed inFIGS. 1-11 inclusive.

In FIGS. 17, 18 and 19, the breach tunnel 20 is enlarged to accommodatetherewithin longitudinal interior corner ways 73 within and on whichthe-slide 72 is slidably mounted. The. breach holder jaw operatingmechamechanism opens and closes the breach holder jaws 70 and 71responsive to the movement of the work holders 16,.and the cams carriedthereby.

The tunnel-29 is open at its top at 209 and is provided with an upturnedbracket 202 onto which a hydraulic breach holder jaws and 61 are closed,the closing force of the said breach holder jaws 6t) and/or 61 actingthrough the cams 62 and 63 urge the tail end of the breach B1 to theleft as viewed in FIG. 14 placing tension thereon, at which time thelead end of the breach B,1 isanchored at either or both of the 1st and2nd pairs of breach holder jaws 21 and 22 with the annular radiallydisposed shoulder 251) at at least one of the circular notches 25 in thebreach B'1 bearing'against the right hand face of at least one of thepairs of breach holder jaws 21 and 22. Thusly, as the pairs of breachholder jaw 21,; 22, 60 and 61 open and close sequentially responsive tothe right to left movement of the work holders 16 through the breachtunnel'29, the breach B1 is. maintained under tension at all times.Alternately,.the breach holder jaws 60 and 61 may be substitutedforbreach holder jaws 21 and 22,and the breach formations 63 and 64 may beused at the lead end of the breach 13-1 of FIG. 14, all opposite hand tolike construction employed at-the tail end of said breach, thus alsoproviding means "for tensiening the breach.

The embodiment of the invention disclosed in FIGS.

cylinder '74 having a piston 740 is mounted. The piston rod 741extending from the piston 740 of the hydraulic cylinder 74 is connectedto a bracket 720 extending upwardly from the slide 72. By applyinghydraulic fluid under pressure by conventional means, not shown, to thehydraulic cylinder 74 on either one side or the other of the piston 740thereof, the said slide 72 may be moved longitudinally of the ways 73 ineither direction. Such means as a suitable threaded stop pin 75 and locknut 76 may be employed to step movement of the piston 740 of thehydrauliccylinder 74 whereby to locate accurately the position of theslide 72 and the pairs of breach holder aws 7G and 71 mounted thereon inrespect to the breach notches 25 before tensioning the breach 3-2. Toobserve the operation of the pairs of breach holder jaws and 71 the topof the slide 72 is suitably apertured vertically at 721. The slide 72 isprovided with a lengitudinal tunnel 722 to accommodate the traveltherethrough of thework holders 16.

The operation of the embodiment of the invention disclosed in FIGS.17-21 inclusive is the same as that of the operation of the inventiondisclosed in FIGS. ,1-11 lnclusive, except that, when one of the pairsef'broach holder jaws 21 and 22. and one of the pairs of breach holderjaws 70 and 71 are closed, as they always are during the operation of aninternal continuous broaching machine of the invention, and hydraulicfluid under pressure is applied to the right hand end of the hydrauliccylinder 74 as viewed in FIGS. 17 and 18, the slide 72 carrying thebreach holder jaws 70 and71 is moved and/or urged to the left as viewedin FIGS. 17 and 18 and shown diagrammatically in FIG. 20, thus applyingtension on the breach B-2 between one of the pairs of breach holder jaws21 and 22 and one of the pairs of breach holder jaws 70 and 71. Thistensioning prevents breach sag between its lead end and tail endsupports of the breach when the unsupported length of the breach isextremely great in proportion to its diameter.

By reference to FIGS. 22 and 23, the pair of breach holder jaws 70 andtheir operating mechanism is mounted on one generally rectangular slide7201 and the pair of breach holder jaws 71 and their operating mechanismis mounted on a second rectangular slide 7201, rather than both pairs ofbreach holder jaws 7t) and 71 being mounted on a single slide 72 asshown in FIGS. 17-21 inclusive. The use of two slides 72% and 7201 eachcarrying one of the pairs of breach holder jaws 70 and 71 respectivelyis desirable when tensioning a breach 13-2 of a relatively large sizeand maintaining it under tension as the pairs of breach holder jaws '70and 71 are alternately retracted and closed as hereinbefore described.

Each of the slides 72% and 7201 are like and similar to the slide 72shown in the embodiment of the invention disclosed in FIGS. l7-2linclusive, and the description thereof need not be repeated. Theenlarged breach tunnel 2t) and the Ways 73 are also similar to theconstruction thereof disclosed and described in connection with likeelements shown in FIGS. 17-21 inclusive except that the enlarged breachtunnel 20 is longer and is provided with two upturned brackets 262 ontoeach of which a hydraulic cylinder 74 is mounted, each hydrauliccylinder being connected by its piston rod 740 to a bracket 720extending upwardly from one of the slides 72490 and 7201.

'In FIGS. 24, 25 and 26 is disclosed alternate construction whereinhydraulic means are provided rather than mechanical means for retractingand closing the pairs of breach holder jaws hereinbefere described forsequentially holding the breach in position as a work holder carries thework thereby. The hydraulic means will be described as that forretracting and closing the 1st pair of breach holder jaws designated bythe reference numeral 21. It is obvious that the same hydraulic meansmay be employed for retracting and closing the 2nd, 3rd and 4th pairs ofbreach holder jaws in the several embodiments of the invention disclosedherein.

FIG. 26 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the breach tunnel 20at the lead end of a continuous internal breaching machine 105 similarto the breaching machine disclosed in FIGS. 1-11 inclusive except thatthe pairs of breach holder jaws 21 are hydraulically operated, the saidFIG. 26 serving as a lecater view indicating where FIGS. 24 and 25 havebeen taken.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 24 and 25, a hydraulic cylinder 80is mounted on the outer side of the breach tunnel 20 opposite thelaterally outer end of each breach holder jaw 21. Each hydrauliccylinder 80 has a piston 81 and a piston rod 82, the latter beingsuitably anchored by such means as a threaded connection 82% to a breachholder jaw 21. Movement of the pistons 81 closes and retracts the pairof breach holder jaws 21 into and out of engagement with the breach B atthe circular notch 25 therein.

As hereinbefere described in connection with the embodiment of theinvention disclosed in FIGS. 1-11 inclusive, work W carried by cradle 19in the upper portion 161 of work holders 16 is telescoped over andbroached by the breach B as the continuous conveyor chains move workholders 16 along the longitudinal upper ways 17. The Work holders 86,one of which is shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, are like and similar to thebreach holders 16 except they carry only one cam bar 83 fixed to oneside thereof which shifts a hydraulic valve 84 which, through aconventional type of hydraulic circuit, not shown, applies hydraulicfluid under pressure to the hydraulic cylinders 80 to close the pair ofbreach holder jaws 21 when the cam bar 83 operates the hydraulic valve84 through a suitable push red 85. After the cam bar 83 passes the pushrod 85 it moves outwardly to the limit of itsmevement governed by ashoulder 850 thereon which comes to rest against a push rod mountingblock 851 secured to the breaching machine frame 11. The said push rod85 may be either spring loaded or hydraulically urged to its outwardlyextended position ready for contact by a cam bar 83 fixed on successivepassing work'holders 86 carried by the continuous chains 15. The lengthof the cam bar 83 carried by each work holder 86 determines the timingof the retracting and closing of the breach holder jaws 21 as eachsuccessive wor-k holder 86 app-roaches and passes therethrough.

In the embodiment of the invention disclosed in FIGS. 12-16 inclusive,the pairs of breach holder jaws 21, 22, 60 and 61 employ the sameconstruction as just described if hydraulically powered rather thanmechanically operated.

However, in the embodiment of the invention disclosed in FIGS. 17-21inclusive and the alternate construction disclosed in FIGS. 22 and 23wherein pairs of breach holder jaws 21, 22, 7t) and 71 are employed, andthe pairs of breach holder jaws 7G and 71 are mounted on a single commonslide 72, or, the breach holder jaws 70 may be mounted on one slide 7201and the breach holder jaws 71 maybe mounted on a second slide 72411, itis obvious that like and similar means as just described may be used forhydraulically powering the pairs of breach holder jaw 70 and 7-1, exceptthat the hydraulic cylinders and hydraulic valves 84 for powering thepairs of breach holder jaws 70 and 71 must be mounted on the singlecommon slide 72, or, if employed on the two separate slides 72% and 7201respectively.

In connection with the method of continuous internal breachingincorporating the invention, the work W having a breaching aperturetherethrough is carried by work holders traveling in a given path forbeing telesceped over a breach supported at spaced locations at both thelead end and at the tail end of the breach, each support being retractedand advanced in timed relationship with respect to the movement of thework and work holders to admit of the work passing along said breachwithout interference from the breach supports, at least one of thebreach supports at each end of the breach is supper-ting the said breachat all times, and, the said one of the breach supports at the lead endof the breach anchoring said breach against longitudinal movementin thedirection of the travel of the work W simultaneously with supporting thesaid lead end of the breach. The method includes that the breach may betensioned while the foregoing is accomplished.

Although but several embodiments of the method and machine of theinvention have been disclosed herein in detail together withmodifications thereof, it is obvious that many changes may be made inthe method steps employed and in the size, shape, arrangement anddetails of the various elements of the invention, all without departingfrom the spirit and scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A continuous internal breaching machine comprising a frame includinga pair of longitudinal ways thereon and an endless chain conveyoreperatively mounted on said frame having its upper flight runningparallel to said ways,

a breach extending longitudinally of said ways and disposed in parallelspaced relationship thereto,

a plurality of work holders adapted to carry work to be breachedinternally mounted in longitudinal spaced relationship on said chainconveyor formed to travel on and along said ways,

said work having an aperture therein disposed in alignment with saidbreach and of sufiicient ize to admit of said work being telescoped overthe lead end of said breach,

at least two pair of breach holder jaws at each of the lead end and thetail end of said breach supper-ting 3 said broachsen said machine frameparallel to said ways, 7

and means sequentially opening and closing each said pair of breachholder jaws permitting said work holders and work to pass therethroughwith at least one of the pairs of breach holder jaws adjacent each endof said breach engaging said breach at all times,

the breach holder jaws at the lead end of said breach engaging saidbreach and holding the same against longitudinal movement in addition tosupporting said breach responsive to the closing of either of said pairsof breach holder jaws at the lead end of the breach.

2. A continuous internalbreaching machine comprisa frame including apair of longitudinal ways thereon and an endlesschain conveyoroperatively mounted on said frame having its upper flight runningparallel to said ways, 7 V

a breach extending longitudinally'of' said ways and dis posed inparallel spaced relationship thereto,

a plurality of work holders adapted to carry work to be broachedinternally mounted in longitudinal spaced relationship on said chainconveyor formed to travel on and aleng'said ways,

said work having an aperture therein disposed in alignment with saidbreach and of sufficient size to admit of said work being telescopedever the lead end of said breach, 7

at least two pair of breach holder jaws at eaclllef the lead end and thetail end of said breach supporting said breach on said machine frameparallel to said ways, I 7

means sequentially opening and closing each said pair of breach holderjaws permitting said work holders and work to pass therethreughwith atleastcone of thepairs of breach holder jaws adjacent each end of saidbreach engaging said breach at all times,

and formations on said breach for engagement by said pairs of breachholder jaws atthe lead, end of said breach holding said breach againstlongitudinal movement inaddition to supporting it responsive to theclosing of either of said pairs of breach holder jaws at the lead end ofthe breach;

3. A continuous internal breaching machine comprisa frame including apair oflongitudinal ways thereon and an endless chain conveyoroperatively mounted on said frame having its. upper flight runningparallel to said ways,

a breach extending longitudinally of said ways and disposed in parallelspaced relationship thereto,

a pluralityef work holders adapted'te'carry work'to be breachedinternally mounted in longitudinal spaced relationship on said chainconveyor formed to travel on and along said ways, i

said work having an aperture therein disposed in alignment with saidbreach and of suificient-size to admit of said work being telescopedover the lead endof said breach,

breach. supporting means including at least two pair of breach holderjaws at each of the lead end and the, tail end of said breach supportingsaid breach on said machine frame parallel to said'ways,

means sequentially opening and closing each said pair of breach holderjaws permitting said work holders and work to pass therethreugh with atleast one of the pairs of broachholder jaws adjacent each end of saidbreach engaging "said breach at all times, formations on said breach forinterengagement between said breach'helder jaws and said breach-at thelead end of said breach holding said breach against longitudinalmovement in addition to, supporting it responsive to the closing. ofeither of said pairs of breach holder jaws at the lead end of thebreach, and means incorporated in the breach supporting 12 means at thetail end of said breach applying tension on said breach.

4. A continuous internal breaching machine comprisa frame including apair of longitudinal Ways thereon and an endless chain conveyoreperatively mounted on said frame having its upper flight runningparallel to said ways,

a breach extending longitudinally of said ways and disposed in parallelspaced, relationship thereto,

a piurality of Work holders adapted to carry work to be breachedinternally mounted in longitudinal spaced relationship on said chainconveyor formedto travel on and along said Ways,

said work having an aperture therein disposed in alignment with saidbreach and of sufiicient size to admit of said work being telescopedever the lead end of said breach,

at least two pair of breach holder jaws at each of the lead and the tailend of said breach supporting said breach on said machine frame parallelto said ways,

means sequentially opening and closing each said pair of breach holderjaws permitting said Work holders and work to pass therethrough with atleast one of the pairs of breach holder jaws adjacent each end of said,breach engaging said breach at all times,

and formations on said breach for engagement by said pairs of breachholder jaws at the leadend of said breach holding said breach againstlongitudinal movement in addition to supporting it responsive to theclosing of either of said pairs of breach holder jaws at the lead end ofthe breach,

the said tail end of said breach and said two pairs of breach holderjaws at the tail endsof said breach having complementary beveledsurfaces cooperating spaced relationship on said chain conveyor formedto travel on and-along said ways,

said work having an. aperture therein disposed in alignment with saidbreach and of sufficient size to admit of said work being telescopedever the lead end of said breach,

at least two pair of breach holder jaws at each of the lead end and thetail end of said breach supporting said breach-en said machine frame,parallel to sai ways,

means sequentially opening and closing each said pairof breach holderjaws permittingsaid work holders and work to pass therethrough with'atleast one of thelpairs of breach holder jaws adjacent each end of saidbreach engaging said breach at all-times,

' formations on said breach for. engagement by said pairs of breachholder jawsat, the lead end of said breach, holding said breach againstlongitudinal movement in addition to supportingit responsive to theclosing of either of said pairs'of broachholderjaws at the lead endofthe breach, formations on said breach for engagement by said pairs ofbreach holder jaws at-the tail end of said breach to admit of theapplication of tension on said breach in addition to supporting itresponsive to the closing either of the said pairs of breach holder'jawsat the tail end of the breach,

1. A CONTINUOUS INTERNAL BROACHING MACHINE COMPRISING A FRAME INCLUDINGA PAIR OF LONGITUDINAL WAYS THEREON AND AN ENDLESS CHAIN CONVEYOROPERATIVELY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME HAVING ITS UPPER FLIGHT RUNNINGPARALLEL TO SAID WAYS, A BROACH EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID WAYSAND DISPOSED IN PARALLEL SPACED RELATIONSHIP THERETO, A PLURALITY OFWORK HOLDERS ADAPTED TO CARRY WORK TO BE BROACHED INTERNALLY MOUNTED INLONGITUDINAL SPACED RELATIONSHIP ON SAID CHAIN CONVEYOR FORMED TO TRAVELON AND ALONG SAID WAYS, SAID WORK HAVING AN APERTURE THEREIN DISPOSED INALIGNMENT WITH SAID BROACH AND OF SUFFICIENT SIZE TO ADMIT OF SAID WORKBEING TELESCOPED OVER THE LEAD END OF SAID BROACH, AT LEAST TWO PAIR OFBROACH HOLDER JAWS AT EACH OF THE LEAD END AND THE TAIL END OF SAIDBROACH SUPPORTING SAID BROACH ON SAID MACHINE FRAME PARALLEL TO SAIDWAYS, AND MEANS SEQUENTIALLY OPENING AND CLOSING EACH SAID PAIR OFBROACH HOLDER JAWS PERMITTING SAID WORK HOLDERS AND WORK TO PASSTHERETHROUGH WITH AT LEAST ONE OF THE PAIRS OF BROACH HOLDER JAWSADJACENT EACH END OF SAID BROACH ENGAGING SAID BROACH AT ALL TIMES, THEBROACH HOLDER JAWS AT THE LEADING END OF SAID BROACH ENGAGING SAIDBROACH AND HOLDING THE SAME AGAINST LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT IN ADDITION TOSUPPORTING SAID BROACH RESPECTIVE TO THE CLOSING OF EITHER OF SAID PAIRSOF BROACH HOLDER JAWS AT THE LEAD END OF THE BROACH.